WSL Championship Tour Returns to Punta Roca
From May 28 to June 7, 2026, the world's best surfers will gather at Punta Roca, La Libertad, for the 4th stop of the WSL Championship Tour. This event marks the 50th anniversary of professional surfing and promises to be one of the season's most important.
Practical Information
- Dates: May 28 - June 7, 2026
- Location: Punta Roca, La Libertad, El Salvador
- Stop: #4 of 12 on the 2026 Championship Tour
- Participants: 36 men and 24 women
- Broadcast: Free on WorldSurfLeague.com and WSL app
Why Punta Roca is Special
Punta Roca, also known as La Punta or Punta Chilama, is considered the crown jewel of Salvadoran surfing. This cobblestone right-hander offers fast, powerful waves perfect for high-performance maneuvers. Locals call it "Central America's J-Bay" after the famous South African wave.
Since joining the CT in 2022, Punta Roca has proven to be a World Title indicator: three of four winners went on to become World Champions that same year.
Surf City El Salvador Pro Champions
Men
- 2025: Jordy Smith (South Africa) - 1st CT win in 8 years
- 2024: John John Florence (Hawaii) → World Champion
- 2023: Filipe Toledo (Brazil) → World Champion
- 2022: Griffin Colapinto (USA)
Women
- 2025: Gabriela Bryan (Hawaii)
- 2024: Caroline Marks (USA) - back-to-back
- 2023: Caroline Marks (USA) → World Champion
- 2022: Stephanie Gilmore (Australia) → World Champion
New 2026 Format
To celebrate 50 years of professional surfing, the WSL has revamped its format:
- End of Mid-Season Cut: no more mid-season elimination
- Every heat matters: non-elimination rounds removed
- Cumulative ranking: best 9 of 12 event results
- Pipeline Finale: Pipe Masters returns in December to crown champions
- Expanded field: 24 women (up from 18)
Full 2026 CT Calendar
- Bells Beach, Australia (April 1-11)
- Margaret River, Australia (April 17-27)
- Snapper Rocks, Australia (May 2-12)
- Punta Roca, El Salvador (May 28 - June 7)
- Saquarema, Brazil (June 12-20)
- Jeffreys Bay, South Africa (July 10-20)
- Teahupo'o, Tahiti (August 8-18)
- Cloudbreak, Fiji (August 25 - Sept 4)
- Lower Trestles, USA (Sept 11-20)
- Abu Dhabi, UAE (Oct 14-18) - Postseason
- Peniche, Portugal (Oct 22 - Nov 1)
- Pipeline, Hawaii (Dec 8-20) - Finale
How to Attend the Event
Getting There
Punta Roca is 35 km from San Salvador International Airport (about 45 minutes by car). The beach is freely accessible and competitions are open to the public.
Accommodation
Book early! La Libertad and surrounding beaches (El Tunco, El Sunzal, El Zonte) offer options for all budgets. During the WSL event, hotels often sell out.
Best Time
Late May marks the start of rainy season, but mornings are usually sunny with consistent 3-6 foot waves.
Surf City: El Salvador's Winning Strategy
The Salvadoran government's Surf City initiative has transformed the country into a global surf destination. With 4.1 million international visitors in 2025 and status as the safest country in the Western Hemisphere, El Salvador is betting on surfing to attract tourists worldwide.
The partnership with WSL and ISA (through 2027) guarantees an international event calendar that puts El Salvador on the global surfing map.